Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church

      Fr. Sebastien SASA, PhD, MPA

Father Sebastien Sasa was born in Soa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After his scientific studies (Mathematics and Physic) -High School, he went to study Philosophy and African Religions at the Catholic University of Congo where he obtained a Master’s Degree with a specialization in Philosophy of Sciences (Epistemology) in 1992. The last year of philosophy, he also obtained the Diploma of habilitation to teach philosophy. He was a professor of Philosophy, Religion and Civic Education at the “Interface” high school, Avenue Bypass – Ngafula/Kinshasa-DRC, 1996-1997.

Immediately he entered the Secular Institute Saint John the Baptist (Sisjb), founded by one of the pioneers of African Theology, Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku. In 1994, while he was studying theology (second year), he took his first vows. In 1996, he completed theology studies at the University of Saint Eugene de Mazenod (Kinshasa) by obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree in theology with the specialization in Pastoral. On August 1, 1996, he was ordained Deacon in Mbujimayi DRC. Before that, he took his perpetual vows in the Cathedral of Bonzola in Mbujimayi. On November 30, 1997, in his parish of Saint Joseph de Matonge, in the capital of the DRC, he was ordained Priest. He worked for two years in the parishes of Notre-Dame de Graces and Saint Edouard in Binza/IPN (Kinshasa). In 1999, Bishop Tshibangu, the Founder of the Sisjb sent him to study Missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome (Italy) where he obtained the Doctorate Degree in Missiology, with the specialization in Pastoral and Missionary Catechesis.

After his doctoral studies, he went to work as "Fidei Donum" in the Archdiocese of Naples (Italy), in the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Portici with the priest George Pisano for twelve years (2005-2017). While he was in the parish, Bishop Tshibangu asked him to study the Sciences of Public Administration. He will study at the Guglielmo Marconi University of Rome - Italy (2014-2016) where he obtained a Master’s degree in Sciences of Public Administration. While he was exercising his ministry in the parish, he was a Professor of Religion in the school of the Sisters (“Istituto Paritario Regina Sanguinis Christi”, Viale Leonardo Da Vinci – Traversa Rocca, 8 - 80055 Portici (NA) – ITALY) from 2015-2017.

Thinking of returning to the DRC, the new Bishop of Mbujimayi, Monsignor Bishop Emmanuel Bernard Kasanda Mulenga sent him as "Fidei Donum" to the Diocese of Salt Lake City (Utah) where he arrived in March 2017. He successively worked in the parishes of Saint Joseph in Ogden (March 2017-July 2017), Saint Ambrose in Salt Lake City (August 2017-July 2018), Saint George (August 2018-July 2020) and since August 2020, he is the current Administrator of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in West Valley City.

Our Mission: To Be Awake and to Discern the Signs of Times

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last Sunday we spoke about Divine Providence. God always takes care of you and your family as he did with the prophet Elias. The thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time is the penultimate Sunday before closing Liturgical Year B. He speaks to us about the end of the earth using apocalyptic language that is scary. But the message that God communicates to us on this Sunday, which is also the World Day of the Poor, is one of hope, trust, discernment and faith. Isn't this a time to stay awake, vigilant and be able to discern the signs of the times? In this week of COP 29, with everything that is happening in Spain, here at home in the United States of America and in many parts of the world, should we think that the end of the earth is already now? What can we do to keep the earth and us from dying?

Many churches, prayer groups, individuals and societies around the World announce the end of the world. The climate crisis affects the Earth’s ecosystem, the lives of populations and nations. In all that is happening in the world, there are tragic and terrifying images that are frightening. Pope Francis, for his part, invites us to protect and care for our Common Home that is the Earth (Laudato Si of May 24, 2015, and Querido Amazonia of February 2, 2020).

The Word of God this Sunday presents us with some of these images: “…a time unsurpassed in distress (Dan 12:1-3) … “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken…” (Mk 13:24-32). When will all this happen? No one knows, not even Jesus Himself knows!

After destruction, despair, comes the time of new creation, reconstruction and hope. God is in control of everything. “…your people shall escape…And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky… Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” With the grace of the Holy Spirit who recreates everything, in the hope of the return of Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to be awake, to discern the signs of the times, to listen to the cries of the earth and to manage Mother Earth well through concrete actions and serious commitments. We also have the mission to help the poor, families, nations that are losing everything because of climate change.

Jesus Christ, Priest par excellence (Heb 10:11-14.18), Saints Clement and Cecilia, pray for us, that we may be good stewards of our Mother Earth, instruments of peace and builders of bridges between nations and peoples. 

West Valley City, November 17